One too many bad days in a row? When things aren’t going well, it’s easy to fantasize about greener pastures.
Before you update your LinkedIn profile, take a step back and evaluate your situation. Save yourself from a hasty move. Reflect on these five common reasons salespeople make a job change, and whether they apply to you.
1. Your Boss Is a Jerk
It’s no secret that salespeople quit because they don’t get along with their bosses. Thinking about quitting because your boss is bringing you down? Remember that bosses come and go. The average tenure of a VP of Sales is about 18 months.
Bad bosses are also everywhere, possibly even at the company you’ve got your eye on. Can you learn to work with your current one? When a bad boss is the only thorn in your side, quitting could be a shortsighted move.
2. The Compensation Stinks
Comp is a serious consideration for any salesperson. Before you resign, ask yourself whether it’s possible to close more deals where you are.
Starting over is costly, because the first few months are all pipeline building. When you factor in ramp time, commission plan changes, and unforeseen territory shifts, will the new pay plan really be worth it? But when you’re financially squeezed, or your targets are unreachable because of variables outside your control, it might be time to move on.
3. Your Offering Is Mediocre
Most solutions work for most customers most of the time. The majority of your customers won’t use every feature your product has. Selling the “best” solution in the space isn’t a requirement to be a sales superstar. You do need to sell something that works well for most prospects most of the time.
If you can’t look yourself in the mirror and feel good about what you’re selling, it’s time to make a change, and if you keep losing to the same competitor, that’s the test case worth studying. But when your offering is good enough and works well most of the time, press on where you are.
4. Zero Growth
What kind of growth do you need? Aiming for leadership? You’ll need several years of above-average performance and a company with a solid vision that supports internal promotions.
Professional growth is different: for that, you’ll need to work alongside other strong salespeople who welcome accountability, training, and collaboration. When the people around you aren’t sharpening you, your career can stall without your noticing.
5. An Anti-Sales Culture
When your company values the sales department, you’re in luck. A healthy sales culture goes a long way toward resolving conflicts, deploying resources, and keeping motivation high. You’ll be seen as a valuable contributor and an essential part of the organization.
But at a company where the sales team is treated as a necessary evil, things will be rough. The best salespeople in the world can’t perform at a high level in an environment that doesn’t support, reinforce, value, and reward strong selling.
So, Is It Time to Make a Move?
Sometimes it’s better to focus on finding a new sales job. Other times you can turn things around with patience, a better attitude, and some flexibility. Before you leave, why not give your current employer a chance to address what’s wrong? The first thing to do before updating your resume is talk to your boss and make a real effort to work through the problems.
Keeping your sales career moving takes hard work, skill development, daily action, and being in the right place at the right time. Seize the opportunities in front of you and make the most of your current situation.
Most sales jobs sit at the entry level, so it’s worth getting your career off to a strong start. As you gain experience and build career capital, your options narrow, and the high-paying roles get more competitive and harder to land.
Ultimately, managing your sales career is up to you. Put yourself on the road to success with the right company: one with a healthy sales culture, products that work, and the growth plans to give you more opportunity as you progress.
And when it truly is time to go, do it the right way: here’s how to quit your sales job like a boss. The bigger picture, from first role to last, is in the complete guide to managing your software sales career.
Considering a change? Learn more about the in-demand sales roles we recruit for.
